Editorial Content for Hemlock and Silver

The work of T. Kingfisher has run the gamut from dark fantasy to horror, often within the same novel, and her respect for and devotion to classic gothic fairy tales always rings true with each story she tells. Her latest effort, HEMLOCK & SILVER, draws heavily from “Snow-White and Rose-Red” with a smattering of THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, all to terrific effect that will have readers squealing with delight.

Healer and poisons expert Anja has just taken a dose of chime-adder venom when the King comes to her space announcing that he has murdered his wife. He is concerned for his daughter, Snow, who is dying from some inexplicable malady for which he blames his wife. He hopes that Anja and her highly unorthodox approach will allow her to get to the truth and sniff out the culprit.

"In the able hands of T. Kingfisher, the imagination she sets forth throughout HEMLOCK & SILVER is completely wondrous and takes readers back to an earlier age when fairy tales and fantasy were a much more comforting reality."

The King provides Anja with full authority to investigate and speak with anyone she sees fit, hoping that her intimate knowledge of poisons will allow her to see what no one else in the kingdom might be able to see. Snow looks terrible, her hair has gone full white and absent of color, and her pallor is extremely pale and gaunt. For some reason, Anja feels that Snow is hiding something from her and has no idea just how accurate that presumption is.

Witherleaf is the place where Snow resides, and it will be inside the castle there that Anja will make the discovery that opens up this mysterious case in ways she never would have expected. It seems that Snow’s ailment was brought about by ingesting apples that may have been poisoned. These apples are not found in the real world. They only exist in the Mirror world, which one physically enters via different mirrors found around the palace. It turns out that people who no longer exist in reality might be there, including Snow's late sister, Rose Red.

Anja visits the Mirror world but fears she could be trapped there forever. So she asks for the aid of her palace guard friend to accompany her as she does not trust the potential outcome that could befall her.

My favorite character in this highly imaginative fantasy is the talking cat Grayling, who exists as a Mirror inhabitant and is clearly inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat. His one eye gives him even more character, and the knowledge and secrets he is aware of could either help or confound Anja depending on how she treats him going forward. Their scenes and witty dialogue are a pleasure to behold, and I could not get enough of him.

Before Anja’s quest is finished, she will have to come face to face with additional questions and mysteries that require answers before she can get any kind of justice for Snow and the King.

In the able hands of T. Kingfisher, the imagination she sets forth throughout HEMLOCK & SILVER is completely wondrous and takes readers back to an earlier age when fairy tales and fantasy were a much more comforting reality.